2. Book Your Hotel EarlyHave the best choice of rooms, at the best rate, by booking your hotel through the HITEC Housing Bureau; Orchid Event Solutions is the only official housing service for HITEC Houston. Booking through HITEC's official housing provider ensures you will be working with a reputable and secure company, and that you will benefit from all services provided to conference attendees at the official hotels. Please report unauthorized providers to Orchid Event Solutions. Hotel reservation deadline is May 18, 2018.

4. Make a ScheduleYou don't have to stick with it, but having someplace to start will make all the difference. Plus, in the process of making your schedule, you may discover things you would not have come across otherwise. Download the HFTP Events 2018 mobile app from the iTunes Store or Google Play to build a personal schedule; with so many events taking place simultaneously it never hurts to have a plan B or C.

5. Find a HITEC FriendSeek out fellow attendees/speakers who have some experience with the event to give you advice, guide you and even show you around. You will come away with a new connection. See if you know anyone attending in the mobile app, or use the conference hashtag #HITECtx to see what people are talking about the upcoming event.

6. Study the MapsThe convention center is a very large venue. Closer to the event HFTP will publish detailed maps of the location of all programming within the convention center and surrounding venues. You will also find maps in the HFTP Events 2018 mobile app.

7. Pack for Every OccasionHITEC is more than just a conference. You will be attending sessions, meeting potential clients, attending demos, networking at events, hopping from one session to the next and more. If you have ever been to Texas, you know the weather can be unpredictable -- be sure and check weather listings before you leave.

8. Check Your FlightThe skies over Houston will get very full during the month of HITEC. Book your flight early and be prepared as delays are not unheard of. Check out the Hotel & Travel page for more information and discount codes.

9. Driving to HITECIf you are planning to drive in the Houston area during HITEC, you may want to consider alternative forms of transportation. The Hotel & Travel page on the HITEC Houston website has more information on alternate modes of transportation. Find details on parking and directions to the convention center.

10. Bring your Tablets & SmartphonesWhen digital materials become available take a moment to look through them -- these will be your lifeline. These materials will have a list of all the programming times and locations along with a detailed map of the convention centre.

11. HITEC Help DeskYou have made a schedule, lined up meetings, read the materials, but you STILL have questions and want to talk to a smiling face. Visit the HITEC Help Desk, located near the registration area, when you are onsite. Get your general questions answered throughout the enitre convention at this location.

About HFTPHospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Dubai. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. The association also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine: PineappleSearch.com®. For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org.For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.

About HITECHospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC®) is the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education, and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place. The unparalleled event offers attendees essential education, access to top hospitality technology industry experts and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Combined with the intimate opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, HITEC has everything to enhance your career.Historically hosted annually in a different city throughout the United States, HFTP decided to break tradition in 2017 by hosting three HITEC events all taking place outside of U.S. borders– in Toronto, Amsterdam and Dubai. This was the first time the global association's largest HITEC event – featuring thousands of hospitality professionals from around the world –took place outside of the United States. For more information about HITEC, visit www.hitec.org.